California wildfire grows, makes runs overnight

By TERRY COLLINS

Associated Press

Published:July 3, 2014 8:54AM

The fire had burned more than 6 1/2 square miles as of Thursday morning.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Officials say a wildfire in a rural part of Northern California’s Napa County that has damaged two homes and forced the evacuation of 200 others grew overnight, as crews struggled to get a handle on the flames in the steep terrain.

The fire had burned more than 6 1/2 square miles as of Thursday morning and grown 500 acres from the previous day. It remained 30 percent contained.

State fire spokeswoman Alicia Amaro said the fire made short runs uphill during the night.

The steep and rugged terrain has forced crews to build containment lines by hand without the help of bulldozers.

The fire has damaged two homes and seven outbuildings. It is not posing a threat to the region’s famous vineyards.